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Pope Francis Says He’s “very close” to Flood Victims in DR Congo

Pope Francis prays at his Wednesday audience in St. Peter’s Square on April 12, 2023. | Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

By Magdalene Kahiu

Vatican, 08 January, 2024 / 3:39 pm (ACI Africa).

Pope Francis has expressed his closeness to the people of God in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following extreme flooding that has resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of thousands.

Described as the “worst flooding”in the Central African nation since 1961, the floods were reportedly triggered by a month of exceptionally heavy rainfall, resulting in deadly landslides and collapsing of buildings. 

“I am very close to the peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, afflicted by floods in recent days,” the Holy Father said at the end of the Sunday, January 7 Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.  

At least 300 people have died and 43,750 houses, 1,325 schools, 259 health centers and 41 markets have collapsed following the floods, DRC’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Actions, and National Solidarity, Modeste Mutinga, said on January 5. 

According to a January 7 Radio Okapi in DRC report, more than 300,000 households have been affected by the floods that started after the rise of waters in River Congo and other rivers in the country, with members at risk of waterborne diseases.

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The country's capital, Kinshasa, as well as the provinces of Tshopo, Equateur, North and South Ubangi, Kwilu, Mongala, Mai-Ndombe, Kongo-Central, Lomami, Kasai, Kasai-Central, South Kivu and Tshuapa are most affected by the floods.

Minister Mutinga appealed for local and international humanitarian assistance to "save lives and ensure the holistic care of affected communities."

In December 2022, Catholic Bishops in DRC urged the government to address the causes of flooding in the country after floods and mudslides hit Kinshasa, resulting in the death of at least 141 people.

“We ask the Congolese Government and the Provincial Government to do everything possible to accelerate the sanitation work and the urbanization process in the city of Kinshasa. It is the same for the other big cities of our country,” members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) said in their 14 December 2022 statement. 

CENCO members underscored the need for “the Government to ensure the safety of the population and thus avoid too many deaths.”

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At least 141 people reportedly died in DRC on December 13 after heavy rains caused floods and landslides in the capital, Kinshasa, Congolese officials said. 

Magdalene Kahiu

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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